I have always loved Christmas time. Three years ago I was diagnosed with cancer and then my nephew was diagnosed with a brain tumour at 2, the next year. He is better now, but this changed everything, including Christmas for my family and me. It became a time of loss.
Since then we’ve mixed things up a bit, dropped the gift giving and the shopping and we are starting to get back to a sense of celebration. We appreciate each other more, although feelings are still quite raw.
My first Christmas after being diagnosed with cancer I took all of my favourite baubles and put them on a plate to get the Christmas feeling without the hassle of a tree. It’s about doing what makes you feel good, changing things, or keeping them the same. It’s just one day of the year and I try not to stress. Fresh salad, seafood and ham help make the day low fuss. I hope everyone has a lovely Christmas and holiday period this year. x
